The Therapeutical Role of Continuous Intra-femoral Artery Infusion of Urokinase on Diabetic Foot Ulcers

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Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the chronic consequences of diabetes which constitute the most important cause of non-traumatic amputation of the inferior limbs. Patients with diabetes are 22 times more likely to have foot ulceration or gangrene than nondiabetics，while foot ulceration precedes 85% of lower-extremity amputation.

Three factors combine to promote tissue necrosis in diabetic feet: ischemia, neuropathy and trauma. Among them, ischemia peripheral arterial disease may play the important roles in the development of DFU. Moreover, diffuse vascular disease is the main characteristics, and thus it becomes difficult for treatment by using arterial bypass or balloon angioplasty. Therefore, we hypothesized that continuous arterial thrombolysis may be an effective therapy in diabetic foot. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of continuous intra-femoral artery injection of urokinase by micro-artery-pump in diabetic ulcers.

We select 200 diabetic patients with Wagner grade 1 ~ 3 foot ulcers. They are divided into two groups randomly: thrombolysis group and control group, 100 cases in each group.

After diabetic dietary advice, all patients receive insulin therapy to control blood glucose within a range of 5 - 10 mmol/L. Then the patients receive conventional care for their ulcers. To remove extensive callus and necrotic tissue, wound debridement was performed. Broad spectrum antibiotics are prescribed if ulcers show clinical signs of infection. Adjustments to the treatment are performed when indicated on the basis of microbiologic cultures and sensitivity testing.

The conventional group patients receive an intravenous injection of prostaglandin E1 (20 ug per day)until the healing of ulcers or discharged from hospital. In the continuous intra-femoral thrombolysis group, first of all, a ultrasound Doppler examination of vessels including artery and venous of lower limbs were performed. To avoid pulmonary infarction, a filtrator is placed in the inferior vena cava before the thrombolysis process if ultrasound results show venous thrombosis. Then insert a percutaneous artery canal from femoral artery in another lower limb into the distal of popliteal artery as far as possible. After finishing this process, the outside part of this artery canal is fixed at thigh, and the patients must keep in supine position in the bed.Firstly,20 0000 ~ 40 0000 units urokinase is injected via the catheter to diseased foot. Then, continuous infusion urokinase via femoral artery by an artery pump (100 ml 0.9% sodium chloride + 100 0000 unit urokinase at a rate of 4 ml per one hour) for 7 - 10 days. Finally, patients receive an intravenous injection of prostaglandin E1 (20 ug per day)until the healing of ulcers or discharged from hospital.

The healing rate of foot ulcers, the time of ulcers, neuropathy symptoms, the period of hospitalization are compared between the two groups during hospitalization.

The recurrence rate of foot ulcers, cardiovascular events, death from all causes are compared between two groups at 1, 4, 8 years during follow up.

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